Play Structure Safety
Faulty playground equipment and accidents that occur on playgrounds are to blame for over 200,000 children's trips to the emergency room each year. Playground structures in disrepair can lead to scrapes, bruises, broken bones and more serious injuries. Avoid accidents and falls by familiarizing yourself with the following playground structure safety guidelines.
- Playground surfaces should be pliable and provide cushion. Use a minimum of 12 inches worth of sand, mulch or wood chips. Hard surfaces like asphalt and concrete should never be the basis of a children's playground.
- Remove anything from the playground that could cause a child to trip and fall. This includes tree stumps, large rocks, fallen tree branches or left-behind trash.
- Make sure that playground structures are free from sharp, dangerous edges like bolts that stick out.
- Playground structures that are more than 30 inches high should be set a minimum of 9 feet apart.
- Elevated play structure components like small bridges or ramps must have guardrails.
- Check that swing seats made of rubber do not show signs of wear. Worn out swing seats can tear or crack. Replace the seats as needed. The same goes for toddler bucket swing seats.
- Look at the chains that suspend the swings. These should not be rusted. Replace rusted chains as needed.
- Playground equipment like seesaws and swing sets should be spaced away from other play sets. Children should have enough room to run and play.
- Sandboxes should be clean and free of foreign debris like glass, plastic pieces and bugs.